New Balance Kit

As autumn caves in and evenings get darker, the temperatures have started to lower and we’ve had our first few frosts. Morning and evening runs are getting chilly to say the least and my latest kit favourites are from New Balance. Not only is the colour scheme faaaaantastic, but it’s super comfy. The leggings have a high drawstring waist band and the lower leg is mesh to keep you warm when it’s cold and cool when you heat up.

The trainers are probably my favourite part – they are lightweight, go with almost anything and are cushioned well around the forefoot. The kit can be found here.

Aftershokz Wireless Earphones

It was only recently that I started to listen to music on the run and in the gym and it was clear that finding a pair of earplugs/headphones to fit me was not easy. I came across Aftershokz initially in a running store over the summer and decided to give them a go. They don’t actually sit in your ear which allows you to still hear traffic and those around you, they’re wireless which means no wires flapping around (wooo!!) and they’re waterproof (perfect for heavy sweaters or runs in the rain!). They also don’t flap around or move once on the head which makes them perfect for people that ‘bob’ whilst running! The Aftershokz range can be found here.

Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR

Until recently, I’ve been a Garmin girl. I went from the FR85 to the FR220 to the FR235 over very little time. However, now that I am less focussed on the running and mix up my fitness routine both in the gym and on the roads it seemed a great time to try out a different brand. This Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR looks dashing and I love the clock face feature. With smart watch features, an amazing gps feature and clear display I’ve fallen for it. I honestly had no idea how I would find this watch but it has exceeded expectations massively. It records heart rate via an LED on the back of the watch face and has different settings for different activities (including weightlifting!!). If you’re a fitness guru I’d definitely recommend giving this watch a go!

Metal Straws

It’s been increasingly in the news lately about the damage caused by plastic. Zanna Van Dijk is also very hot on this and after following her social channels for a few years now I decided to join the hype and invest in some metal straws. They’re not cheap…£15 for 4, but they’re reusable and look pretty sick. They come with a handy little cleaner and they’ve won me over. The metal straws I got were from Urban Outfitters although they are sold in most main supermarkets.

Over the last few years I have been unfortunate enough to be laden with injuries from broken bones to muscle tears. Although I have always, and still have, a huge passion for running, at various points along my journey so far it has faded a fair bit. Over Christmas my coach and I decided that I would take a short break from competitive training and racing for a few months to allow my body to fully repair itself and allow me to actually regain my love for running by taking runs easy and just enjoying the feel of actually being out running.

So far, it has worked. I’ve run without any injuries and have run as and when I feel I want to [not exceeding 3/4 runs a week] – each run has felt more enjoyable. Having a taken a step back from hard ‘training’, I’ve also done a a fair bit of cross training / cycling, quite often substituting runs for a ride if a friend’s injured and wants company on the bike.

Here are a few suggestions to make sure you and running don’t fall out:

Find a buddy, or join a club eg. Nike Run Club
Running alongside someone can be SO motivating. Having done a lot of both training alone and training in a group, I know there are positives and negatives to both. Having someone to talk to or just run alongside you silently can keep you going further if you tend to get bored easily, but also if they’re slightly faster they could even pull you along faster than you’ve ever run before.
Joining a local running club or more relaxed club like the Nike Run Club could keep you on the road (or trail) for longer. By committing to sessions at a set time with others you are less likely to find an excuse not to go.

Vary your runs eg. Intervals, speed work, long slow runs
Plan your running week so that you don’t always run the same route at the same pace at the same time. Add an interval session, long run or fartlek.

Take the scenic route
Why stick to the same 3 mile route time and time again? Try and look for new routes along canals, through local parks or woodland, round a lake…find somewhere beautiful to run. (You might even have some insta-worthy moments 😉😉)

Relax
While you’re out on your run, take time to breathe, focus on taking slow deep breaths. If you need a break, walk for a few minutes – you’ll enjoy the run more if you’re not killing yourself 100% of the time.

Don’t feel you ‘have to run’ or force yourself to run – it’s ok to have a rest day!
If you are a regular runner and one morning you really don’t feel like running, maybe your body is trying to tell you something? Take a day off – a day (or even a week) off will not affect your progress. Running when you don’t want to be could lead you into the mud mentally when it comes to setting out on your next run.

Do some other sport at least once a week eg. a cycle, swim or yoga class
Cross-training (by this I mean anything other than running) is also a good way of keeping your body fit without running. If you feel a niggle developing, a swim or cycle could be a great way to keep your training going without making the injury worse. Taking a day off to do some other exercise may also mean you’re more grateful to be running the next time you run…!!

Set yourself a goal
You’d be surprised how much more motivation you have once you have set yourself a goal! By entering a race or setting an end-of-month target you are less likely to feel like the running has ‘no purpose’ and it’ll keep you going. Deciding to run a Saturday morning parkrun could be your first goal.

Create a banging playlist and listen to some tunes
On long runs it can be nice to zone out and get stuck into some music. Your concentration may move from the run to the music and I find time passes far quicker. Make sure the music is relatively fast with a beat around the same as your cadence so you can run to the rhythm! I prefer not to listen to music on short runs and during training periods I need to focus on the run with as few distractions as possible.

Macro/calorie tracking, I’m sure many of you are familiar with the drill. You track all the food/drinks you consume to the gram and use an app or website such as myfitnesspal to add it all up for you. The more premium sites will break down the macronutrients into carbs, fats and proteins and allow you to set personal daily targets. Tracking macros is commonly used by bikini fitness competitors, weight lifters and can be used as a weight loss tool.

After seeing various fitness/insta friends track their macros (all for very valid reasons) I decided to do it for a few days and see what it was like. The reason I don’t track macros is that I don’t feel I need/want to restrict my diet that much – I’m not actively trying to lose/gain weight and I try to maintain a balance with my life, spontaneously eating what I want when I want. I believe that eating should be a pleasure, not a chore or hassle.

Here are my thoughts having tracked for 3 days:

Tracking macros takes a lot of time and effort. Weighing things out into exact portions and entering them into the app isn’t a quick task….especially when you’re used to just chucking dinner in a pan and getting on with it.

Staying under your daily sugar target is tough. Most foods with some form of carbohydrate in them contain sugar, but macro tracking makes you realise just how much. Fruit, drinks and even snack bars have surprisingly large amounts in!

Reaching your protein goal is very hard!! When you consider that my protein target is roughly 125g and there is 6g in an egg….you see the problem.

Snack bars are very high in sugar – even the ‘healthy’ ones.

You start to obsess over measuring even the tiniest of things, like 10ml of milk for tea. Normally I just pour milk in my tea without faffing – this made making a simple cup of tea into a 5 minute task.

Reaching your RDA for vitamin A and C is so easy. I snack on carrots a lot and carrots contain high levels of both these vitamins.

Personally, although I found it interesting to see the macro break down of the food, I feel it would be unecessary to do it long term – I very much prefer to be spontaneous with food and not have to worry about whether I’ve gone over or not hit my target. Most of the exercise I do is cardio based and therefore it is also far less significant to track macros.

For more info on tracking macros, check out some articles from Ben Coomber. If you decide to track macros, t’s always best to seek professional advice to help you work out what your personal ones would be otherwise you could get them incredibly wrong!!!

As 2016 comes to a close naturally we have all started to reflect on the amazing things we have been up to this year. There have been a mixture of experiences that we’d love to repeat and repeat day-in-day-out, but there have also been a few events that have once again highlighted to us just how precious life is.

I have started to set long and short term goals for the year, plan adventures to take place throughout 2017 and also think about what I’ll do differently this year.

PC: Eliot Finch Photography / Wearing: Karrimor Lite Run Jacket

I have decided to round up my favourite products from this last month to give you my ‘New Year Fit Gift Guide’. Whether you’re a gym goer or runner, foodie or fashionista, male or female; there’s something for you. Give your 2017 a kick start with some of these!

Nutri Ninja

The Nutri Ninja blenders are the next biggest gadget that you need in your kitchen. As well as being uber powerful, they’re reliable and easy to wash up! They will mix anything from nuts to make nut butter, frozen bananas to make nice cream, or egg whites for meringue nets!

These blenders are made in a range of sizes/powers, so dependent on your budget and ideal use there will be one for you! I’ve used the AutoIQ and the Duo and I will never look back! Click here to have a look at their website.

Pip and Nut Almond Butter (Holland and Barrett)

If you have been a follower of mine for some time, you’ll know my relationship with nut butters has gone beyond safe. The discovery of a new nut butter is dangerous, especially for my bank balance. Although Pip & Nut haven’t been around that long, they have now got their products into Holland and Barrett. As soon as I heard 1kg tubs were on the way it’s safe to say I was more than excited…!! Their peanut/almond/cashew butter is the creamiest smooth nut butter you will EVER find. It’s perfect for drizzling and baking, eating from the spoon or for dipping apple chunks in. They even produce sachets which are super convenient for when you’re out! Check them out at H&B here.

Enertor Insoles

ENERTOR™ insoles are made using D3O® Technology and are endorsed by Usain Bolt. They are designed to enhance performance and provide superb cushioning to reduce injury risk and increase the comfort of the shoes.

ActivBod Towel (with zip pocket)

I absolutely LOVE my ActivBod towel. Not only does it have a zip pocket to store keys/gym cards and snack bars, but it also has an elastic tag that makes it easy to hang from things. I’ve been using mine for about a year now and have found it so much more absorbent than any other towel that I have taken to the gym – it is also bright green so you’re far less likely to pick up someone else’s in a hurry! Click here to go to the ActivBod Website.

Bean Body Coffee Scrub

I get through endless amounts of shower gel and body scrub which means I tend to end up buying them when they’re on special offer. However, this is one of the only occasions I have given in and paid that little bit extra. Having tried a sample amount of this coffee scrub and finding it SO effective I found it on BOGOF and couldn’t resist getting more. Although it is very fragrant (I’m not overly keen on coffee), it leaves you with smooth skin like no other scrub. If you’ve got some Christmas money to spend I’d highly recommend giving this a go!!! Find it in Holland and Barrett here.

Nike Epic Lux Shorts (with zip pocket)

These Nike shorts are currently my favourite. I have a fair few pairs of athletic shorts, but unlike most, these come down low enough to look ‘decent’ in public, have a VERY useful zip pocket at the back and have a high waistband to keep them up! The shorts are also made to prevent chaffering which makes them super comfy for everyone. Click here.

Myprotein Whey Crispies

Myprotein recently released a new range of snacks, these whey protein crispies were included. They come in a 500g or 1.5kg bag and contain roughly 50% protein (with the added bonus that they are also gluten free). Whether you’re making chocolate crispy cakes, topping your smoothie bowl or just fancy a snack, you need to try these! They’re also unflavoured which makes them perfect for using alongside any other flavour! Check them out here. (BETHH10 will get you 10% off).

The Organic Protein Company Whey

When it comes to protein, I am quite particular. I don’t just eat every type of protein powder I’m given. As well as being gluten free, I try and make sure I only use protein powders that have been made using the purest ingredients that come from a trustworthy source. This particular protein has 1 ingredient; organic whey protein. It mixes like no other and is totally unflavoured which makes it more versatile. To order some, click here. (BETHRUN5 gets you a discount).

ENERTOR™ insoles are made using D3O® Technology and are endorsed by Usain Bolt. They are designed to enhance performance and provide superb cushioning to reduce injury risk and increase the comfort of the shoes.

They are capable of aiding muscular function using the orthoitc support that they offer, ENERTOR™ claim them to be totally unique from any other insoles.

With my running background full of injuries I was offered the chance to give these insoles a go! I’m currently making the transition from road running to cross country (my season will start late as I’ve had an injury) and therefore I first used ENERTOR™ in my spikes. They are made in individual sizes so took their advice and ordered the size up so I could trim them down.

Personally I have never worn insoles, so although they took no time at all to get used to, they did feel a little strange at first. The orthotics are not totally flat as they are designed to put pressure on different areas of your foot whilst you run. After wearing them a few times in my spikes, I gave them a go on the road. My road shoes are a slightly larger fit than the spikes but I didn’t notice myself slipping at all once I’d put the insoles in.

Over the last 2 weeks I have felt a difference in the way my feet feel after running; normally post-session they’ll feel quite tight and worn out. After wearing these I noticed a significant reduction in the ‘ache’ which must have been down to the insoles. I plan on wearing them to race in January as I’ve been so pleased with how I’ve got on with them so far!

“Many people could see a difference by using orthotic inserts, which are designed to treat foot function problems, reduce injury and make the wearer feel more comfortable by altering the angles at which the foot interacts with the ground and upper body. Multiple studies conducted in a number of countries point to the fact that up to 70% of people would benefit from some sort of orthotic insole. For sufferers of issues like arthritis, orthotics have been shown to correct muscle movement and reduce joint loading.No matter your walk of life, orthotics could help you perform better, hurt less, and live happier.”

I'm Beth, a Runner, Coeliac and Freelance Blogger. If I'm not out pounding the pavements in neon lycra I'm either eating peanut butter out of the jar in my PJs or wishing I could be doing one (or both) of the two. 🥑